Ottawa stunt driving offences up 17 per cent since speed cameras removed
Ottawa police chief Eric Stubbs told the Ottawa Police Service Board that enforcement is harder after nearly a year without roadside speed cameras, as stunt driving charges rise.
Reported. A news outlet found this. voche.me names the outlet and links its report. Read the original report on cbc.ca.
Ottawa police chief Eric Stubbs told the Ottawa Police Service Board on Monday that traffic enforcement has been harder since roadside speed cameras were removed nearly a year ago. CBC reported that officers now need to cover more than 400 school zones and intersections to match what cameras once handled on their own.
Police board member and Ward 22 Councillor Steve Desroches (/on/ottawa-2026/candidates/steve-desroches) asked Stubbs directly whether the removal of cameras made the force's need for more front-line officers worse. Stubbs agreed that it did.
What the data shows
CBC reported that Ottawa police data, as of October 17, 2026, recorded 623 stunt driving and related offences for the year. That is a 17 per cent increase from the same period in 2025, the year before cameras were removed.
Chief Stubbs also pointed to roads getting busier as a factor. Ottawa has seen a higher than average number of fatal collisions in 2026, CBC reported. City officials have called on drivers to slow down and put down their devices.
Why cameras were removed
Speed cameras measured how fast a vehicle was going and sent a ticket in the mail if the driver was speeding. Ontario Premier Doug Ford ordered their removal in late November 2025, calling them a cash grab. The province said it would fund other traffic-calming measures, including roundabouts, raised crosswalks and better road signage, instead.
What officers are doing now
With cameras gone, officers must be present in person to catch speeding drivers. Chief Stubbs told the board there are more than 400 school zones and intersections across Ottawa where cameras were previously stationed. Covering all of them with patrol officers is a greater demand on staffing than the cameras required.
Mayor Mark Sutcliffe (/on/ottawa-2026/candidates/mark-sutcliffe) and other city officials have repeated calls for drivers to slow down and put devices away. No new Council vote or formal motion on traffic enforcement was reported from the Monday board meeting.
What residents can do
Ottawa drivers can expect police patrols in school zones and at busy intersections. Ottawa police are asking anyone who sees dangerous driving to call the non-emergency line or, in an emergency, 911. Updates on Ottawa road safety are available on the Ottawa Police Service website.
Questions this story answers
What did Ottawa police chief Eric Stubbs say about speed cameras?
Chief Eric Stubbs told the Ottawa Police Service Board on Monday, November 2, 2026, that traffic enforcement has been harder since roadside speed cameras were removed nearly a year ago. He said officers would need to cover more than 400 school zones and intersections that cameras once handled, and agreed that the removal made the force's need for more front-line officers worse.
How much have stunt driving offences increased in Ottawa since cameras were removed?
CBC reported that Ottawa police data, as of October 17, 2026, recorded 623 stunt driving and related offences for the year, a 17 per cent increase from the same period in 2025, before speed cameras were removed. Chief Stubbs also said roads are busier, which he says reduces driver patience.
When were speed cameras removed from Ottawa roads?
Speed cameras went offline in Ottawa in late November 2025. Ontario Premier Doug Ford ordered their removal after calling them a cash grab. The province said it would fund other traffic-calming measures such as roundabouts, raised crosswalks and better signage instead.
Who is Councillor Steve Desroches and what role does he play at the Police Board?
Steve Desroches is a member of Ottawa City Council representing Ward 22 Riverside South-Findlay Creek and serves on the Ottawa Police Service Board. At the Monday meeting, he asked Chief Stubbs directly whether the removal of speed cameras made the force's staffing needs worse. Stubbs agreed that it did. You can read more about Desroches at /on/ottawa-2026/candidates/steve-desroches.
What traffic calming measures did Ontario promise to replace speed cameras?
According to CBC, the province said it would fund other measures including roundabouts, signage and raised crosswalks. Chief Stubbs did not comment in this report on whether those measures have been delivered in Ottawa.
How many fatal collisions has Ottawa had in 2026?
CBC reported that Ottawa has seen a higher than average number of fatal collisions so far in 2026, prompting city officials to call on drivers to slow down and put down their devices. The specific number of fatal collisions was not given in this report.
What does this mean for people driving in Ottawa?
Ottawa police are asking drivers to slow down and stop using devices while driving. Without automated cameras, officers must patrol more than 400 school zones and intersections on foot or in vehicles. Drivers caught stunt driving face serious charges. Check for road safety updates at the Ottawa Police Service website.
How does Mayor Sutcliffe's office connect to this issue?
Mayor Mark Sutcliffe has called on drivers to slow down and put down their devices in 2026, as CBC reported city officials repeated that message at the police board meeting. Sutcliffe took office in November 2026. His tracker page is at /on/ottawa-2026/candidates/mark-sutcliffe.
Sources
The pages this story draws on. Open one to check a claim yourself.
- CBC: Speed camera ban makes traffic enforcement harder, says Ottawa police chiefcbc.ca
- Ottawa Police Service Boardottawapolice.ca
- Ottawa Police 2026 enforcement dataottawapolice.ca
Found an error? Tell the editors with the corrections form. A correction is noted on the story it changes. Read our standards.
Topics
More from voche.me
